Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

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Arlberg
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Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby Arlberg » Sun Aug 17, 2014 9:44 pm

Lately I have noticed my heart rate is going way higher than normal while exercising. My resting heart rate is still about the same at around 40 bpm.

However while riding, my HR now quickly goes way higher than it normally would for the exertion I am doing. For example a hill that I have always ridden up at 145 - 150 bpm at a set speed and power now has my heart rate easily hitting 160+ for the same speed and power as before. I'm puffing hard when I normally wouldn't be. Normally I have to push hard and long to get my HR to 175-180 bpm, now I am reaching that HR almost easily. So this obviously makes me feel more fatigued more quickly too.

I am 100% confident that my HR meter is not playing up because I can feel my heart beating much quicker than it normally would.

I have heard that general tiredness/fatigue/over training can suppress the heart rate from reaching its normal levels during exercise, but what could cause the opposite?
Last edited by Arlberg on Sun Aug 17, 2014 10:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Duck!
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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby Duck! » Sun Aug 17, 2014 9:55 pm

Early onset of illness can cause elevated heart rate, as the body is under some stress fighting the infection, even though no symptoms may be apparent yet.
I had a thought, but it got run over as it crossed my mind.

CKinnard
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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby CKinnard » Sun Aug 17, 2014 10:21 pm

Overtraining can cause your exercise HR to reduce, or increase. Different people react differently.
Presume you are overtraining and fatigued...have 2 light weeks in the saddle, then gradually build the intensity and volume again.

And as Duck says, if you are carrying an occult infection, your HR will rise....in which case relative rest will also be the prescription.
Try doing some cross training. say stretches and light core work.

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Xplora
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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby Xplora » Sun Aug 17, 2014 11:28 pm

Time to back off a little bit; agree with both above - probably an infection/illness. I had medium bronchial issues and continued to lift last week.

I prefer to exercise when healthy, the stress of training just runs you down.

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Duck!
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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby Duck! » Sun Aug 17, 2014 11:43 pm

A couple of years ago I did a MTB race while in the early stages of glandular fever (I'd felt a little bit flat for a few days prior, but didn't think much of it). My HR was redlining (185-ish) while going pathetically slowly when I would normally be sitting around 155.

A few days later, when I was really crook, I slept with the HR monitor on out of curiosity. My absolute fully clapped-out sleeping HR was still nearly 40bpm above normal!
I had a thought, but it got run over as it crossed my mind.

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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby greyhoundtom » Mon Aug 18, 2014 5:25 am

Arlberg wrote: However while riding, my HR now quickly goes way higher than it normally would for the exertion I am doing. For example a hill that I have always ridden up at 145 - 150 bpm at a set speed and power now has my heart rate easily hitting 160+ for the same speed and power as before. I'm puffing hard when I normally wouldn't be. Normally I have to push hard and long to get my HR to 175-180 bpm, now I am reaching that HR almost easily. So this obviously makes me feel more fatigued more quickly too.
Go see your GP, get a referral to a cardiologist and get it thoroughly checked out. Looking after the Long Term health of your heart is not something to take lightly.

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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby SydneyRider » Mon Aug 18, 2014 6:57 am

A thyroid gland that has become overactive for one reason or another will result in an elevated heart rate upon exertion. Your GP can send you for a blood test, the results come back the day after the test and if elevated, you'll have the reason. If not, your GP will advise the next course of action.

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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby warthog1 » Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:22 am

Agree if you are worried see your GP. The GP is the one who can then decide what tests are needed to determine a diagnosis which is why you see him/her.


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clackers
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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby clackers » Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:58 am

Arlberg, best get this checked out - GP, then referral to specialist. Best to detect something early.

If they find nothing that needs action, that's a bonus, right?

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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby moosterbounce » Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:23 pm

Duck! wrote:A couple of years ago I did a MTB race while in the early stages of glandular fever (I'd felt a little bit flat for a few days prior, but didn't think much of it). My HR was redlining (185-ish) while going pathetically slowly when I would normally be sitting around 155.

A few days later, when I was really crook, I slept with the HR monitor on out of curiosity. My absolute fully clapped-out sleeping HR was still nearly 40bpm above normal!
Isn't this one of the reasons they say to be super cautious exercising after a temperature as it can effect your heart?

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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby piston9 » Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:40 pm

I had similar - went to doc who told me to stop cycling until I could get an echocardiogram (to check for issues around heart). took 5 weeks to get an appointment (my strava for the month was shot...)

Mine checked out fine - and i'm back on the bike, but it was worth pausing or at least slowing down as the ticker isn't something you can do without :D. Probably a virus or heat related, but no proof, only confirmation the ticker is fine...

Arlberg
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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby Arlberg » Tue Aug 19, 2014 6:42 am

Thanks for the responses everyone. I just got back from 3 weeks cycling in France where I pushed pretty hard up the Alps and Ventoux, so it could be that I am feeling a bit run down. I will ride easy for a week or so and then see how I feel then.

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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby Robinho » Tue Aug 19, 2014 1:47 pm

I've got a touch of a cold at the moment, not enough to noticeably slow me, but enough to notice my average heart rate was up by about 8-10 beats. I know it will be back to normal in a day or 2

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Re: Heart rate way higher than normal -causes?

Postby casual_cyclist » Tue Aug 26, 2014 4:13 pm

I notice my heart rate was way too high during run training on Sunday.

On Thurday I was feeling great and smashed out some intense intervals including 6 sprints in the mix... I covered 4.27 km in 29:30 with a av HR or 152 and max HR of 175.

On Sunday I did an easy run of just 3.67 km in 24:30 and no sprinting with an av HR of 163 and max HR of 187. :shock:

I'm getting over a cold which I think is the cause. In any case, rest and no strenuous exercise for a couple of days for me and see how I recover.

If you track your HR data while exercising it's pretty easy to spot when something is amiss. Even without the HR data, I know for an easy run I was really suffering, so I knew straight away that something was wrong.
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